THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST - Articles - Zimbio

The Gossip Columnist - Introduction to the manuscript

Wed, 3 Jan 2008 10:01:20 GMT

posted by WILLIAM-DAKOTA
A celebrity becomes a celebrity through exposure. Through motion pictures, television, politics, and often through crimes, we get to know them. Basically, it is the media, through print or television, that make stars and celebrities. Photographs, interviews, and media coverage, can get anyone (to quote Andy Warhol), their fifteen minutes of fame. Security guards accused of bombings, skaters accused of attacks on other skaters, young women killing or attempting to murder their lover's wives, can all lead to instant celebrity. Charles Manson and his, so called family, all convicted of murder became celebrities after being charged and convicted of murdering other celebrities.

Criminal celebrities are often remembered more than our heroes. And often their celebrity continues long after their deaths. Al Capone, Billy the Kid, Bugsy Segal, all live on long after they have left this world. The whole world is still aware of Charles Manson. He will be written about long after he has passed on.

There are all kinds of celebrities, good ones as well as bad. Hollywood, of course, creates the most celebrities. "More stars than there are in heaven," was the credo of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Those large images on theater screens became super beings to the audience sitting in theater seats. Large images on screen, become bigger than life. We get to know them through their screen persona, even though many, in real life, are nothing like the image they portray in films. Most of the stars are nothing like we see on the screen. And most have egos as big as their screen images.

A former Los Angeles Prosecutor's brother, referring to women in general, said, "Women eat, shit and piss like everyone else. What makes them so special? Why put them on a pedestal?" Whether or not you are a sexist and think along those lines, I guess this could apply to celebrities too. Just because they become known around the world, through film roles, are they really special people?

The late Steve Allen told me that exposure alone cannot sustain a celebrity, that there has to be more than exposure. If they don't have the talent to carry them on, then their celebrity is short lived. Steve had an eye for talent and he exhibited that talent on the Steve Allen show. I was a fan of Steve's and I interviewed him for the Hollywood Star, which is reprinted in this book. I was in awe of Steve while doing the interview because I had been one of his biggest fans when I was in high school. I missed a lot of classes because I had to sleep-in the following morning after staying up late to watch his show. Of course there weren't any VCRs in those days and television wasn't even in color.

I was star struck growing up. I was then and probably somewhat, still today. There is something exciting about being so near to someone who is known around the world. Getting to know them is still exciting and interesting. Once the newness of meeting them wears off, a closeness develops and you feel you have known them all of your life. You forget they are known figures and you develop a relationship like you do with your close friends you see everyday. Even seeing and talking to celebrities for the first time gives you a familiarity feeling of having known them for a long time, because we have seen them so many times on the screen and in the media. Like Mr. Bugliosi's brother said, "They eat, shit and piss like everyone else." But, we still enjoy reading and hearing about them.

As a teenager I collected autographs. I had two books filled and through carelessness, lost both of them. One I had left at the concession stand, for safe keeping, when I worked at Grauman's Chinese Theater as doorman; and the other at the Sylvania Picture tube factory in Ottawa, Ohio, where I had taken it to show to co-workers. I miss them and it took me a long time to get them filled. I had everyone from Elvis Presley to...well just about everyone who was anyone during the fifties, many of which have now passed on. I went to many places where I knew there would be celebrities and waited within a group of other fans, to get autographs. It is sad today, that when a fan does this, it is called stalking and can become a criminal offense.

For about a five year period I was a Hollywood gossip columnist and owned the Hollywood Star newspaper. I say owned, but my backer claims he owned it, although I did all of the work of putting it together and distributing it. He got the money from the sales because he fronted the expenses of getting it started.

I have decided to share my story, my life story, for those who might be interested in reading it. Sidney Skolsky's headstone (he was a famous gossip columnist), says something like, "he loved Hollywood, he really did." I guess I can say that about myself too. I read all of the fan magazines that were so popular in the fifties and sixties. I saw nearly every movie that played in my home town. My first job was working in a theater, as an usher, then doorman, to assistant manager. I would later end up leasing and operating theaters in Michigan and Ohio.

When celebrities die, it seems strange that persons who have never known nor met them in real life actually cry as if they had been related to them. My mother cried when Elvis Presley died. Many cried when Frank Sinatra passed on, even though his death was anticipated the last year or so of his life. But, many people had grown up in his era, and listening to those fabulous songs as only he could sing them. He wasn't ever supposed to die, but he did. When John Derek died, I was moved. He was one of the handsomest leading men I had seen on the screen. He was still handsome at 71. 71? Could he have been that old? Even though we all age we seem to forget that those stars we grew up with, grow old too. They are only human beings. They eat, shit and piss like everyone else, and that also includes dying.

As the days pass, we lose more of our screen heroes, sometimes too fast, too soon. Robert Mitchum one day and James Stewart the next. We always say, "Whose next?" They die in threes. We lost Guy Madison and even the Motion Picture Academy didn't acknowledge his passing. I had reminded them, before the Oscars, not to forget him, but was told so many celebrities had died that they couldn't get all of their photos into the program. GUY MADISON! Wasn't he, at one time, a handsome leading actor? And they couldn't even use a glossy still shot on television as a memorial tribute!

Well, Guy is gone. I met him once at a restaurant across the street from Warner Bros. Studios. We chatted and played darts. I enjoyed talking to him and that's what is important to me. As we age, we have grown to love our memories. After all, that's all we have left. And even brilliant, Marlon Brando is gone since I started this book.

Strange how some celebrities remain stars after they have passed on. People like James Dean, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. They have become icons of our past. I wonder why Steve McQueen isn't on that list? He was a major star in his heyday. Yet you seldom hear anyone mentioning his name. The ones we remember are those who touched us through their talent and performances. River Phoenix made more movies than James Dean did and was well liked, but his memory has faded fast. Dying from a drug overdose isn't the same as dying in a car accident. But then, didn't both Elvis and Marilyn die of drug over-doses? It is hard to figure out stardom and how one can become immortal, like the three I mention here.

I am one of the few people who will remember and miss Brandon de Wilde. Young people today don't even know or care who he was. He was a young, very handsome and talented man, who died at a young age and whose most famous roles were in "SHANE," as a young boy, with Alan Ladd and "BLUE DENIM" as a teenager with Carol Lynley, and as a grown up in "HUD," with Paul Newman. He had an innocent, bashful, Dean look. And he was much better looking than Dean. As I recall, he was high on pot, and drove his truck into a bridge, killing himself while touring in summer theater. And no biography has been written on this charismatic and interesting person.

Blue-eyed Frank is gone. Like Elvis, he will live on through his music and films. Elvis was no great actor, at least in the films that were chosen for him to be in. Perhaps if he had gotten rid of Colonel Tom Parker, he may have had a more successful film career. But, without the Colonel, we may never have had Elvis, the Elvis we knew. The Colonel was a promoter on the highest level. Frank Sinatra, on the other hand, was a very talented actor. Frank will be missed, but not like the three icons are. He grew into old age, had Alzheimer's, and had led a full, though controversial life. Celebrities come and go and eat, shit, and piss like everyone else.

(link) www.zimbio.com/Author's Comments to THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST

Eva Mendez

Thu, 24 Oct 2008 04:43:00 GMT

posted by dhaniboy

Eva Mendes was raised in Los Angeles of Cuban-American heritage. In college she began acting, studying underneath acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. This led to her desire to appear in feature films. Though taking many smaller roles in movies, she was little known until playing the girlfriend of Denzel Washington's character in Training Day (2001). Since then she has been featured in a wider range of roles, from comedic to dramatic. These gave her the ability to work with many highly regarded directors, such as Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)), Carl Franklin (Out of Time (2003/I)), John Singleton (2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)), Antoine Fuqua (Training Day (2001)) and the Farrelly Bros. (Stuck on You (2003)).

Eva has co-starred in an independent film, The Wendell Baker Story (2005) with Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson and Will Ferrell, with Luke Wilson directing. Before that, her biggest movie was Hitch (2005/I), a romantic comedy that had her playing opposite Will Smith.

Along with acting, Eva is employed by Revlon Cosmetics as an international spokeswoman. She joins such elite actresses and models as Julianne Moore, Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford, who appear in Revlon's television and print ads. She is also a passionate supporter and active participant in Revlon's fight against breast cancer.

Eva's goals are to improve her acting skills by working with such contemporary directors/filmmakers as Steven Soderbergh, Spike Jonze and Pedro Almodóvar, and learning from such renowned directors as Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni.
IMDb Mini Biography By: phynyx

Trivia

Was a marketing major at California State University Northridge where she dropped out to pursue acting.

Is Cuban-American.

Is writing a book titled "Crazy Leggs Beshee", inspired by her nieces and nephews, that introduces vocabulary, art, history and values through a medium kids understand.

Loves interior designing and would undertake this profession if not acting.

Her hobbies are music, sports (hiking, biking, skiing, and mountain climbing) and interior design.

Graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California. John Cho, Joseph Hahn and Alex Kalognomos were also students there.

Has a sister named Janet living in Los Angeles.

Has played Denzel Washington's wife/girlfriend twice, first in Training Day (2001) and again in Out of Time (2003/I).

Favourite films are The Shining (1980) and Blowup (1966)

Named #12 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2005 list.

Was among the guests at Jessica Simpson's 25th birthday party.

2005: Ranked as #53 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.

2002: Was featured as #54 in Maxim Magazine's "Hot 100 of 2002" supplement.

2004: Ranked as #80 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004" special supplement.

2006: Named #44 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.

Was the speaking voice ("Welcome to Miami, Bienvenido a Miami") in Will Smith's song, "Miami".

2007: Ranked #7 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 list.

Speaks Spanish fluently.

Was originally cast as Susan Ortega in Bruce Almighty (2003) but had to be replaced due to scheduling conflicts.

Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2008 Razzie Award nominating ballot. She was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actress category for her performance in the film Ghost Rider (2007), she failed to receive a nomination however.

Has entered the Cinque Lodge rehab facility in Utah to battle substance abuse issues [February 7, 2008].

Ranked #7 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list. (She was ranked #7 on the previous year's list, as well.).

Admires the film Network (1976), which inspired her to take up the film Live! (2007).

How the HOLLYWOOD STAR NEWSPAPER was born. From the manuscript, The Gossip Columnist

Sun, 1 Oct 2007 04:19:11 GMT

posted by WILLIAM-DAKOTA

The Hollywood Star newspaper was set up as a magazine for two issues. Notice I used the word "Confidential" from the notorious Confidential Magazine of the '50's

.
I started working at a tabloid paper titled the "L.A. Star." It was a local Los Angeles porno paper. Paul and Shirley Eberley owned and published it. It was an underground type of thing and had been quite successful at that time. I told them about an idea I had for the Hollywood Star. They asked me to do an ad for it to run in their paper. But, this was so sudden and I had no idea how to do this. I just had an idea for a newspaper with no particular design. So there was no workable ad. They were behind on paying their contributors too, so after a few articles, I left but had watched and learned a lot about how to do a small newspaper. I had also taken Journalism in high school, which helped me a bit too.

Then I came up with a format that I liked for the paper. I used to love the old "Confidential Magazine," of the fifties with their exposes of the stars. This is what I wanted to do. I bought a layout pad with press-on format letters to create a headline. It would resemble an ordinary newspaper, but with eye catching headlines that would guarantee sales (I hoped). Then I had to try to find a backer to pay for the typesetting and printing costs. The stories I wanted to write about, were already stored in my head. Things I knew about but nobody had ever written about them. I wanted to be anonymous but at the same time I wanted "my name" to be known. So, in many issues, in photos taken with celebrities, I had my face blocked out before I went to press. I needed to remain anonymous so I could gather gossip without people knowing what I looked like.

And on occasions I would get into semi-drag, (my face would be made-up in drag), for a disguise, but I would wear men's clothes. I went to a "porno" premiere at the Pussycat theater on Santa Monica Boulevard like this too. And another time, singer Frankie ("Sea Cruise") Ford, drove me to "That's Entertainment II." But, studio publicist, Ted Hatfield, who had promised a press pass for me, wouldn't let me in when he saw me with my face made up.

Frankie had stopped his car in front of the bleachers that had been set up for fans and tourists so they could see the stars as they went into the Cinedome Theater. And we opened the trunk of his car and took out bundles of THE HOLLYWOOD STAR and passed them out to everyone in the bleachers. The crowd was ecstatic. But, later I was pissed because Ted had ignored me and wouldn't let me in. I had already seen the film at a press screening, but I wanted the exposure.

So, a few days later, after writing to his boss stating that if it had been Elton John in drag, or any other celebrity like Alice Cooper, they would have gotten in and that the make-up was "my thing" and I had been made a fool of. So, I was told I would be on their screening list "for life"...probably so they wouldn't have to go to court over my threat of a lawsuit.

I had the HOLLYWOOD STAR format all figured out. It would consist of three pages of gossip, an occasional celebrity interview, a controversial editorial called "On my soapbox," in memory of Louella Parsons, who often used that term, and "I Nominate for Stardom," page, giving space for new actors. I would include numerous movie reviews with photographs and of course a male, nude celebrity photo, whenever possible. I ended up with several stories on transvestites, male strippers, circus freaks, Hollywood murders, autopsy reports of celebrity victims, a music review section and a few "freebie" ads. I would reword items making them aimed at adults. If so and so was making a comeback, I would write that but would add, who the fuck cares? Of course if someone was getting a divorce, I'd say so and so are no longer fucking....they are getting a divorce.

I developed many fans as well as enemies. The studio publicists had mixed emotions. Jet Fore, at Fox, was always friendly and loved the newspaper and always wanted extra copies. The Paramount publicists hated me. With Columbia Pictures, it was an on and off romance with them, according to what mood they were in. If I did a nostalgia thing, they loved it, but if I gave a "candle-up-the-ass award," (this was for persons who gave me a hard time), then Columbia would be up in arms. Ironically, 99% of the time, the persons who I gave that award to, left their jobs soon after. Well, not all were demoted or fired. A couple had been promoted.

For such a small paper, I began to receive notoriety. I received phone calls from around the world, with foreign radio stations wanting to interview me. Many of my stories had been reprinted and published in European newspapers. The Los Angeles Coroner, Thomas Noguchi, congratulated me on a headline story he had seen in a foreign newspaper. I don't even remember what story it was that he had seen copies of, but I heard that one story was headlined in a newspaper in Melbourne and Adelaide, Australia. Even CNN's Anne McDermott interviewed me. I don't recall now what the story was that she reported on. It was probably the paper itself, or a pick-up from the Los Angeles Magazine interview or the Harriet Choice story in the Chicago Tribune. Yes, I had my fifteen minutes of fame, if you can call it that.

One of my stories made headlines in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, written by reporter, Denis Hamill. He had been advised, via a phone call from Nevada, not to print the story. He did write it and it made headlines. It was about the David Begelman affair, the head of Columbia Studios at the time. The whole thing is chaptered in this book.

I also had a threat from actress Jean Peter's husband, when I ran an article saying she was "getting cobwebs in her pussy," while married to Howard Hughes, because they weren't having sex. I heard she had laughed at the article but her new hubby was pissed. He had personally phoned and threatened me. But, the HOLLYWOOD STAR was never sued. The Los Angeles magazine printed a lengthy story by Mitch Tuchman, about me and the newpaper. This made me halfway legitimate. SCREW was one of the first publications to do a story on the newspaper, followed by another publication titled "Brut," that re-ran some of my stories. Harriet Choice, of the Chicago Tribune, flew in and interviewed me and wrote a syndicated story that went over the wire services to other newspapers across the country, where they ran half page stories. I was on Cloud 9 and had gained a lot of clout. I would often be invited to "private press screenings" at the studios. I could be sitting, with two or three people at 7:00 a.m. watching a horror film. Press screenings became a one a day thing.

My first scandalous headline in the first issue of the paper was, DAVID McCALLUM IS BLIND. Nobody today, even knows who the hell David McCallum is. Well, he was one of the stars of the popular TV series, "The Man From Uncle." I mentioned this in the gossip section, where it was sort of buried. But, the headlines sold the paper, even though he is only "blind in one eye"...probably from birth.

The papers were sold, mostly in news vending racks on the street, although the local newsstands sold them too. The second headline was TAB HUNTER SAYS I'M HOMOSEXUAL! Thirty years before his autobiography TAB HUNTER CONFIDENTIAL. But, it was no secret in those days either. At that time he had all ready told this to a magazine but I went to press with it first and their story came out a couple of months later. But, I was first! My distributor had been disappointed when the first issue came out. He said, "it isn't selling." Well, I had absolutely no advertising nor promotion. It was just "there' in the news racks with the headlines. But, the next week he said, "Guess what? All the Beverly Hills racks are empty...and the money is there too." Word of mouth was selling the paper. A lot of the exposes had been old stories that had been around Hollywood for years but were never in print. People in Hollywood, knew they were true. I pushed the paper as "Movie Gossip for Adults."

I started using four letter words, to try and out-do Rona Barrett publications. They were too boring and filled with studio hype. The Laufer Company paid for and used her name but she seldom, if ever, wrote anything for them. Barbara Sternig was Barrett's ghost writer. She also found stories for Rona's three minute daily ABC clip. Bill Royce was the editor and he was, at one time much later, a producer of Jay Leno's Tonight Show. I asked Sternig is she had written Rona Barrett's book and she denied that she had written anything for her, (at that time), but in Sternig's book she told the truth.

I would always keep my ears open to conversations in restaurants and had a way to sneak inside the studios to find out things. I also had a gossip "hot line" and would get leads from people. Often celebrities themselves would phone me and tell me gossip. People would call at hours of the night. Many had run ins with celebrities and wanted to dish me all the dirt.

The third big headline was 8 STARS WHO WERE FORMER HOMOSEXUALS. If there is anything such as a former homosexual. Among those were Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter (again), Tony Curtis and Alain Delon. Anyway, you get the idea without me running down each and every title. I already mentioned the Elvis Presley story on his drug addiction in the first issue of the paper. And now Lisa Marie Presley Cage, (well Cage for three months), admits she too had been a drug addict, in her teens, after Elvis was long gone.

I later named 150 MALE BISEXUAL STARS. Brad Davis, star of "Midnight Express," Tony Perkins ("Psycho"), were on the cover as well as French film star, Alain Delon. As we all know now, both Brad and Tony died of AIDS. Both talented actors and I miss them very much. The reason I named and outed so many actors, was to get it done and over with. (I explain this in the 150 that were named, and now listed in this book). Not one actor was hurt by my outing. Only two persons complained to me. Donna Summer (through her agent) said she wasn't gay or bisexual, (she was in the list of bisexual female actresses), and Scott Baio phoned me and said, "I'm Scott." I said, "Scott who?" and he hung up. I knew it was him from his voice.

I later heard, from a limousine driver, that Scott had knocked up a girl and that he and his Dad were arguing in the limo about it. His Dad said he he should have used a rubber. So, I deleted both of them from the lists, although I have heard "rumors" about them since the paper ceased publication.

I recall, way back in the fifties, Tony Perkins had suddenly disappeared. And Louella Parsons had written in her column to "check out Tab Hunter's apartment on Sunset, that's where Tony Perkins car is parked." Tony was at the peak of his good looks and had just started acting in films. He was in "Fear Strikes Out," a baseball story and then "The Tall Story," with Jane Fonda, also starting her film career. That's when she was living with her agent, Dick Clayton. Tony was tall, lean and lanky and sexy. I saw him at the premiere of, "The Gunfight at the OK Corral," which premiered at the Hollywood Paramount theater, (now the El Capitan). He was wearing goggle type of glass frames, usually used for sunglasses. But, he had plain, untinted glass in them. Later I would have the same type made up and other than the President of General Motors, we were the only three who had those type of frames. Today they are all too familiar.

I saw Tony another time at the Mocambo on Sunset, after the premiere of, "The Spirit of St. Louis," at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood, many years before the paper. There was a benefit fund raiser for the widow of the owner and Frank Sinatra was appearing. Tony came out the front door at intermission and just looked over the fans and tourists who were crowded around the front door, then smiled and went back inside. Frank came out and asked if we could hear the music alright? The front door was left open so we could listen.

It was a star studded event and it's where I learned there is a small group of autograph hunters who keep up on celebrity events and they all go to them to get autographs. One of their group was "discovered" by Tab Hunter and at another event Tab "arrived" with the former autograph hound. (Today autograph hunters are called stalkers. It's a damned shame).

Funny that one of the autograph hunters, who had been there, appeared years later when I was taking photographs of the Carradine's at the Ebelle theater. He was standing in the crowd. He told me he had lived in New York but was retired and had moved to Hollywood. Hard to believe, but harder to believe I had remembered his face over all those years.

Jack Sernas, the handsome actor from, "Helen of Troy," was there and I got his autograph and he "wrote down his phone number." He was married to an obese woman, who was with him, but he was obviously gay. And believe it or not, I never phoned him. Jack was very short, sort of an Alan Ladd type. He looked tall and muscular on film. The only other film I saw him in was, "La Dolce Vita." He reminded me of a good looking usher at the Capitol theater in Flint, Norman Courney.

I saw Brad Davis after the screening of "Chariots of Fire," at the Academy theater. I had gone there with artist Kenneth Kendall. Kenneth had painted a porcelain miniature of Brad, so I introduced myself and Kenneth, while Brad was waiting for the red traffic light to change. He talked to Kenneth for quite a while. After Brad's death, at a memorial service at the Doolittle theater in Hollywood, Kenneth gave the miniature to Brad's widow. Brad's death was very sudden and his illness had been kept quiet from the press. Brad's brother, Gene, is more handsome than Brad and he still hasn't recovered from losing his brother. Gene starred with Charles Bronson in, "10 to Midnight." Kenneth Kendall's brother, Lester, (nee Katz) had been Bronson's agent when Charles was using his real name, Charles Buchinski. Kenneth was a James Dean fan and created the James Dean Memorial at the Griffith Park Observatory, where scenes for "Rebel Without A Cause," were filmed. He dedicated a similar memorial in Fairmount, Indiana where Jimmy grew up. It stands in a small park near the edge of town. Kenneth passed away September 3, 2006.

The Hollywood Star newspaper didn't make up stories but we wanted to be sensational as well as truthful. There was "no intent" of hurting anybody's career and it was a sort of cat and mouse game. If actors wanted to be mousey, then we were catty and often caught up with them. Many stories seemed to be outrageous when they were written and many people didn't believe what we printed. But, as time went by and the things we said were proven true, then attitudes changed. We wanted to be more "confidential" than Confidential magazine ever was.

We erred on two stories that I can recall. Actually it was one story and one photo. The" Sal Mineo's Killer is Known," headline, proved later that our sources were wrong. At that time, even a detective thought it was credible. And a nude of Kent McCord, wasn't Kent McCord. It was a questionable photo. Some thought it was him while others didn't. The Hollywood Star had an editor's pledge that read:

"Whatever we print, we believe it to be true.
If we should err on any item or story, we
will acknowledge it in future issues. We research
our stories to the best of our ability. We hope you
enjoy our paper and will recommend it to others" - Bill Dakota

I would often venture out with my face in drag, as I mentioned here. After the Westwood Village premiere of , "A Star Is Born," (where I had worn a white, rental tuxedo, as everyone had to do, so that when Ms. Streisand came, wearing a red gown, she would stand out like a rose-.....phew). Anyway, the following evening I went walking down Hollywood Boulevard, in the tux, and face in drag, with a tape recorder interviewing theater managers and I used this in a column titled, "Waltzing Matilda."

"Deep Throat," had played at the Pussycat theater on Hollywood Boulevard for a couple of years. I stopped and asked to see the manager. Then I asked him a few questions, such as how the movie was holding up after such a long run? I had never done this before, and I can imagine what they thought, seeing and talking to a man in a white tuxedo and face in drag! Anyway, this turned into a full page story, things happening along Hollywood Boulevard. And some people even asked me for my autograph. That's Hollywood!

Of course people knew me in the bars that I frequented in those days, the Sideshow, the Beachboy and the Kenmore Lounge, where some scenes for "Barfly," were filmed. All of which are now gone.

The HOLLYWOOD STAR was started on a shoestring. The first few issues had different backers. Some were the vendors who owned the racks, (this was before we bought ours). It was the best selling tabloid on the street. It outsold Playboy Magazine at the World Book and News on Cahuenga Boulevard. I finally got a backer who bought 120 newsracks and they were put out, along Hollywood Boulevard, on nearly every corner, along Sunset Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard in North Hollywood, and some special places like the original Brown Derby on Wilshire Boulevard, and in front of the post-offices.

The paper only came out once every two or three months. Yet, each week the racks would often be sold out. Other tabloids were weekly and they never sold as well. My backer had purchased an Iteq Quad typesetter (this was before computers of course), which cost around $18,000 in those days and $5,000 for a printer. The copy was in a sealed binder that had to be run through a developer or printer. We also had a photo machine to do half-tones as well. I operated out of the basement of an apartment building I was managing. So, this is how the Hollywood Star was born. Well, it was born in Hollywood earlier but it wasn't that secure, moneywise.

My 24 hour hot-line could also be dangerous, so I taped all of the phone calls. I also asked for names of witnesses for whatever it was they were calling me for. I tried to get a minimum of two other names and then I would verify the information. I often found myself phoning restaurants or bars for verification. I may have been duped a few times, but I always printed the fore-mentioned disclaimer. I didn't want to intentionally hurt anyone by making up gossip on them.
(link:the-gossip-columnist-31.blogspot.com) David Begelman- Studio head and a thief.

Hollywood Star newspaper Gossip section Part 1

Tue, 5 Sep 2007 20:38:14 GMT

posted by WILLIAM-DAKOTA

The following is a compilation of gossip that was printed in the HOLLYWOOD STAR newspaper and the HOLLYWOOD "CONFIDENTIAL" STAR magazine.
Although this was "written and published" a few years ago, if you haven't read it or heard of it, "gossip" that is, then it could be considered new! - Bill Dakota
(Warning: PG-16 because of explicit language.)
Sit back, relax, read and enjoy.

A phone tip last year, went unannounced. The caller said SUSIE QUATRO and PENNY MARSHALL were having a lesbian affair. Now that Penny has divorced ROB REINER, maybe there was some fact to the call. But, isn't Suzie living with Sonny Bono? (Note: Not today since he is no longer alive).

An actor who got real, real carried away was: ANTHONY BOYD SCRIVEN, an actor who played a mugger in "DRESSED TO KILL," was indicted in New York on manslaughter charges.

A few years ago LEE MAJORS was filming the SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN in Long Beach at the Pike (the amusement park) in the fun-house. Lee ran into a mummy and the arm fell off. There was a real man wrapped in the mummy garb. It turned out that the man was a missing derelict. Someone wrapped up his body like a mummy, sprayed it with fluorescent paint and sold it to the Pike's fun-house. What a weird sense of humor. The only reason I mention it here was that I just heard of the incident and it was hushed up pretty quick.

Was that JOHN SCHNEIDER beating his meat in his dressing room or was he pounding his meat into someone? It seems his trailer was bouncing back and forth.

Complaint from the Disney Studios, in the transportation department. Seems the head guy has hired a cute South American (male) for a top job and personnel with more seniority, are crying because the guy put his lover in a job they were more qualified for. GAY POWER?

DAVID CARRADINE, is being sued for assault and battery. And actor, WILLIAM SWINNEY, claims he was going to kill Swinney and then allegedly assaulted him by striking the plaintiff with a "claw hammer," striking him in the face and legs. The offense was supposed to have happened a year ago on Winding Road in Los Angeles. Why so long in making the complaint?

JOYCE HABER said "POPEYE" is going to be Bob Evans' "EVANSGATE," another take-off on the HEAVEN'S GATE," flop.

We received numerous phone calls that MERV GRIFFIN was caught having sex with a male in a dressing room in Las Vegas. But, they failed to tell who the alleged recipient was or where and when it took place. We need all of the facts.

Did you know that this paper comes out as frequent as LIZA MINNELLI has abortions or miscarriages?

JULIE HARRIS is hospitalized for exploratory cancer observation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

KABC news anchorman, JERRY DUNPHY, was arrested and booked on suspicion of drunk driving. Dunphy was taken into custody by West Valley Patrol officers. Officers at the scene said Dunphy failed to pass a field sobriety test. (Dunphy died in 2002).

RATS AT PARAMOUNT STUDIOS! That's what the Orkin exterminator man tells us. "They have a serious problem at the Paramount Studios with rats. They're in the property department and we just can't get rid of them. It's a real big problem." So, if you're walking around the Paramount lot, watch out for rats, the four legged kind.

At the age of 18 KRISTY McNICHOLS will receive ONE MILLION BUCKS for her role in, "THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA." Well, this was years ago before the balloon payments that are given to actors now.

Didyouknow MATT DILLON was arrested one afternoon as he was walking down Hollywood Boulevard? Cops thought he was skipping school and hustlin'. Well, Matt said he wasn't hustlin' and was here to make a movie, "Little Darlings." And boy are you right. They didn't believe him and hauled him in. The studios came to his rescue and hushed the story. Matt will be 17 in February. (Wow, is this ever an old story!)

When DAVID CARRADINE dies from a drug over dose, which could happen at anytime, (he's been hospitalized many times already), there will be questions raised as to why someone didn't help him? Questions that have been aimed at those around Elvis Presley. I know David is strong headed and hard to tell anything to, but there must be a way to reach this guy. I hate to see him go at so young an age from drugs. But, it's inevitable. The writing is on the wall. (Well, the writing on the wall has faded. Maybe someone read this to him and it woke him up. He is alive and recently signed a photo to me. "Yellow Pages Dot.Com" is a recent commercial he is doing).

The recent fire at the Burbank Studios, where the western town was wiped out, is believed to have been started by striking musicians, and "THE LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE," was often filmed there.

Back to the sick joke department. A guy lights a match and moves it up and down. What's that? It's RICHARD PRYOR on a pogo stick. (Richard was almost fatally burned to death, when drugs he was using caught him on fire). Now he has M.S. (Now he is deceased).

Sick jokes have been around for years and I recall an incident or a joke after JFK was killed. A guy walks into a bar and orders a Kennedy cocktail. It was a "Bloody Mary" with two shots. Where do these originate? In people's head of course. And no matter how sick they are, I often find them funny. Well, everyone knows I'm a sickie. At the Comedy Store, on open mike night, I tried a routine. I said that I knew OJ was guilty. That damned nigger's ass was all over the place. DNA here DNA there. Damned nigger's ass. Well, I almost got the DNA beaten out of me.

KATHRYN CROSBY is alleged to have a live-in boyfriend. Kathy used to be avid reader of the National Enquirer and even gave them an exclusive story on the anniversary of Bing's death, but then they printed a story about her being in a New York restaurant and having difficutly with a waiter and she was alleged to have stormed out. Well, she hadn't been in New York in years! So, she lost interest in the paper.

Would the person who called to tell us DIANA ROSS had an abortion last September, with the child alleged to have been actor, RYAN O'NEAL'S, please call us again? The person phoning works at a hospital where the alleged abortion took place.

GARY CROSBY is writing a book titled, "Bing's Boy." I wonder if he will tell it like- 'Papa Dearest?' There is still at least one of Bing's sons alive, from his first marriage, that didn't commit suicide but, last I heard he was living in a cheap apartment in Hollywood and doing drugs.

LINDA (WONDER WOMAN) CARTER'S former cook tells me Linda's husband used to beat the hell out of her. He pulled a gun on her and when the cook stepped in front of him.."he fired her."

JERZY KOSINSKI, (now deceased), who wrote the screenplay for "BEING THERE," from his novel of the same name, is into the S&M scene. He was at Chateau 19 (a S&M club) at 133 W. 19th Street in New York, where he was beating up his girlfriend. Then a one legged woman with a peg-leg got into the act and was grinding her peg-leg into a woman's pussy! Naturally, I had to investigate the story. Unfortunately the club was closing at 1:30 a.m. I still had to pay the $15 cover charge but missed any live action. But, the story was confirmed by the doorman/bouncer. "Yeh man, she was getting it on. She was grinding that peg-leg into her cunt. That woman will never be the same." This came from the doorman who was wearing all leather, from head to toe. And wearing leather gloves too. I'd overheard another customer saying, "I have to pack myself with ice because I bleed internally." Needless to say, after a quick glass of wine, I left. Even cabs were hesitant to pick me up near that club.

MALCOLM McDOWALL says the sex scenes in "CALIGULA," were added to the film after it was supposed to have been finished. Strange, because I recall seeing him lather up his hand to fist fuck a guy, (simulated of course, but the idea was sure there). He was also seen in the background shot of some of the sex scenes. Explain that Malcolm. I saw the film and loved it.

BRAD ("MIDNIGHT EXPRESS") DAVIS' private sex life ain't so private. Better pick your friends more wisely Brad. You may have weird ways, as was stated in our last issue, but you are also very talented. (Brad died of AIDS and left behind, a wife and daughter).

ROMAN POLANSKI, still in exile, is dating 17 year old DAWN DUNLOP. Roman just cannot stay away from jail bait can he? Well, Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old second cousin. And Elvis was dating Priscilla, in Germany, when she was only 16.

Didyouknow that one of CHER's back up singers hits her high notes? True, true, true. But this was also true of Elvis Presley. He couldn't hit all of his high notes either. And if you have his "Comeback" special on DVD, you will see that he even lip syched some of his songs from his previous recordings and performances.

I understand the JAMES WOOD's nude scene in "THE ONION FIELD" proved him to be among the guys with the biggest cocks in Hollywood. The cameraman's eyes popped out when he saw him. But, Waumbaugh won't send us a nude photo. I'm sure there are some from the prison shower scene.

SYLVESTER STALLONE gave actress SUSAN ANTON a diamond, but when they broke up she had it made into a pendant. (No, it's not in the shape of a penis).

NOSTALGIA!..oh how we forget tidbits. Remember when BING CROSBY was drunk and drove his car into a person killing them? He and his family moved up north until the matter was forgotten or silenced.

Someone wrote in and asked if I was a faggot? Well, if I had a choice between BO DEREK and JOHN DEREK, I'd choose John! He was always a handsome son of a bitch. He likes to read comic books too. (John died at the age of 71).

GARY SANDY of 'WKRP IN CINCINNATI,' told me that when he lived in New York, some kids about nine years old, pulled knives on him and said, "Give us your money or we'll cut off your balls." Needless to say, Gary still has his balls.

Surprisingly, I loved my recent trip to New York. Maybe I was lucky, the three days I was there. I wasn't mugged, got laid within hours of my arrival and a DAVID SUSSKIND show may be on the horizon. (Didn't Susskind die?)

The ex-girl-friend of MARJOE GORTNER, phoned to tell us he had a pencil dick. (No, it doesn't look like a pencil). That's supposed to be the size of it. The ex-evangelist is "producing and starring in" another film. Seems like that is the only way he can get work. His "Red Ryder" film flopped. And he isn't the best actor in the world, although I did like "Red Ryder."

GEORGE BURNS, while putting his handprints in the cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater, was overheard saying, "After all these years in Showbiz, I'm back on the sidewalk." George was a hit with the crowd, signing autographs and joking with them. He lived to be 99.

We have a porno picture of singer FELIPE ROSE, (The Village People), but we don't print porn. We do have a nude photo though and it's in this issue.

GREER GARSON's life was saved by a pace-maker. (Stay away from those microwaves, honey).

We received a request for back issues from DURBAN, NATAL! Now, where in the hell is that? How does this paper get to places like that? I guess it must be from the tourists that come here. We are to receive a mention in SCREEN STARS and MOVIE WORLD too. Mighty nice of Pat Agan and this goes for you too, MITCH TUCHMAN, for the Boston Phenix and Los Angeles Magazine interview. But, sorry guys, no photographs of Dakota due to my having to sneak around the studios, bars, etc. I must remain anonymous as to my identity or nobody will say anything when I am around.

I was surprised to hear POLLY BERGEN is alleged to be a lesbian. That came from my dentist as he was filling my teeth. He was at a party where Polly was loving it up with her companion.

JACK HALEY was recently in bed with dysentery! But, it wasn't from LIZA MINNELLI's cooking...they have their own cook, and two secretaries, etc. Liza, so our snoop tells us, has a telephone in her closet (for closet queens?), and that she listens to Jack's conversations from the hidden extension. But, Jack learned of it and was supposed to have put SAMMY DAVIS, JR., on hold, until she (Liza) got off the phone. Jack wasn't too uncomfortable in his bedroom as he had a wet-bar there stocked withTanquerey and Jim Beam. Their home, above the Whisky-A-Go-Go, is supposed to be furnished with the tackiest of furniture. They have plaster busts of W.C. Fields and Laurel and Hardy on their mantel in the living room that has shag carpeting running two feet up the wall. There is also a three dimensional chess set in their sunken living room and in one built-up corner, there is a white Baby Grand piano with a photograph of Jack on top, in a nightclub. And Liza, who has a separate bedroom, has her movie posters all over her walls. On the kitchen wall is an inflatable sculpture. The license plates on their Burgundy ROLLS ROYCE reads LIZJACK 1. On their blue Mercedes, I think our snooper said the license plates read AZJOY. Who knows? Who really cares? Just tid-bits that might interest you, the reader.

The MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN set was disrupted a few times by bomb threats. (I thought the program bombed from the beginning), but evidently there is an audience for it. I just can't get into it, which proves you shouldn't follow one person's taste.

BARBRA STREISAND, who is scheduled to put her footprints in cement at Grauman's, backed out twice. JON PETERS said she will do it, even if he has to carry her there. Wasn't Jon murdered by the Manson family?

BARCELONA, SPAIN- "THE OMEN," has broken all existing Box-Office records for this country. The opening days receipts were the largest in the theater's 18 year history.

I visited the WONDER WOMAN set at Warner Bros. to try to see LYLE WAGONER whom I met in Flint, Michigan where he appeared in "BORN YESTERDAY," with ED ASNER and KAREN VALENTINE. But Lyle wasn't on the set that day. I did see two Wonder Women, LYNDA CARTER and her double, wearing the same identical costumes. But, the blond, hunky electrician, with the deep blue eyes, caught my attention. He should be on the show and he nearly bowled me over as he ran from the set to get some equipment.

I just learned that GENE ROTH, a character actor in nearly 400 films, was killed in a car accident. A 17 year old, who was drunk, ran a redlight and killed Gene. I used to see Gene at Lee's Drugstore at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland, where he worked part time at the liquor counter. I hadn't seen him in a few months and I assumed he was working on a film. Another friend of his also learned of the news, at Thanksgiving, when she phoned the store to invite Gene to a Thanksgiving dinner. Although Gene's name wasn't well known, his face was known and easily recognized. He was in many scenes in the beginning of the Brando film, "THE YOUNG LIONS."

PAUL NEWMAN flirts with death in real life, (another Jimmy Dean?). He has just won the D-Productions National Car Championship driving his Triumph in Atlanta, Georgia.

RYAN O'NEAL, who said Tatum would be retired from other films, after "Paper Moon," has let her film, "THE BAD NEWS BEARS," "NICKELODEON," and now "SIX WEEKS," about a girl who only has six weeks to live, dying from leukemia.

FRANK SINATRA is giving away two hundred gifts to his closest friends at Christmas, "his wedding picture in handmade gold frames." That will cost him around $33,000. Who'd want one?

BILLY HALOP, famed Dead End Kid, died November 8th. How many stars of this funny gang are left? HUNTZ (SATCH) HALL was doing a few commercials before he died. JOE TURKEL, seems to be the only one remaining. He was the bartender in "THE SHINING."

I just checked with Filmex, the group who is sponsoring "A STAR IS BORN," in Westwood, to see if the rumor is true that MS. STREISAND will be wearing red, while the rest of the invited guests has been requested to wear white? I was told that it was just a rumor and that she would be wearing white too (wanna bet?). By the time you are reading this, you will know what she wore, but who really cares? She could go naked and that would be a sight, wouldn't it? And I was told to arrive early and not late, as Streisand would be the last to arrive and she wouldn't like to be upstaged. How the hell could I upstage her? And why would I want to? Just because I'm going in Dean Martin's rental limo, the Silver Streak? No, that's a movie, the Silver Hawk, and no I won't be taking a white Bengal Tiger as was planned. Who do you think I am, Cal Worthington? (Cal was a car salesman who did numerous commercials on television with different animals calling them all, my dog "Spot.")
I went with John Boyd who was supposed to be my bodyguard. I had a magnetic sign for the side of the limo that said, THE HOLLYWOOD STAR presents Gossip columnist Bill Dakota. When the limo pulled up to the front of the Westwood Village theater, the crowd of fans were yelling and applauding. We didn't know who was in the limo in front of us? When we got out, they were all yelling, "Dakota, Dakota." I was surprised and happy to know I had fans.

I just heard that RODDY McDOWALL and MONTGOMERY CLIFT were one time lovers. This was a real shock, although I knew both had homosexual backgrounds. Roddy made a big scene over a hotel room in Toronto, when he wanted to stay in the Queen's Suite!

BOB HOPE said, "Watching 'Gone With The Wind,' on TV got me to thinking. If they made that picture today, Rhett Butler would probably be played by HENRY "FONZIE" WINKLER. The climax of the picture would be his turning to Scarlet O'Hara and saying, "Frankly my dear, sit on it." (Sit on it was a line Fonze used on the TV series, HAPPY DAYS). Bob continued, "I'm still as fond of BING CROSBY today as I was the first day we met...when I made top bid for him at a gay slave auction.

(Dakota: I saw BOB HOPE here at the Greek theater, after the Hollywood Star folded and he bombed with a gag about AIDS. He had just arrived in town from New York, and the celebration of the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. He said, "The Statue of Liberty has AIDS. They don't know if she got it from the mouth of the Hudson or from the Staten Island Ferry." With AIDS being such a serious matter, especially here in Hollywood, there were few laughs.)

LIZ TAYLOR fell from a horse and cracked her ass -so her marriage to JOHN WARNER was canceled...for a few days anyway.

LINDSAY WAGNER, (the Bionic Woman) and MICHAEL BRANDON will soon be legally fucking. Yes, they will be married this year.

BRODERICK CRAWFORD, is to portray J. Edgar Hoover in the "Private Life of...Hoover. Wel-l-l their private lives are similar.

MICHAEL GRAY (SHAZAM), phoned to say he decided not to do the nude photo for us in February. He also said he felt that the BURT REYNOLDS nude photo in Cosmopolitan Magazine was a fluke. But, he recently signed a photo for me which said, "I'm sorry I never did the nude photo for you."

DACK RAMBO, was shocked, to say the least, that we had heard and printed that he had fucked transsexual Ginger Coyote, but now he laughs at the whole thing, so Ginger told me. (Dack died from AIDS).

JACK CASSIDY, father of singer, DAVID CASSIDY, and ex-hubby of SHIRLEY JONES, died in his apartment when it burned down, apparently from his smoking in bed. I had talked to Jack about the possibility of getting a full frontal nude of David that had ran on the cover of THE ROLLING STONES magazine, but they edited the most precious part. I had first talked with David's agent, Marsa Hightower, but she turned us down. Jack had said he would try to get us one. Too late now!

THE ROYAL VIKING STAR is one of three Norwegian Cruise Line ships. CHET SAMPSON, who has been a correspondent friend since 1967, invited me and John Boyd, (my one time bodyguard and friend), aboard for a cocktail party before it departed for Hawaii. And it was grand. Jack Martin, a writer and former associate of Rona Barrett and Liz Smith, brought DODY GOODMAN, (known from the "JACK PAAR TONIGHT SHOW," from which she was fired), and we gossiped for about two hours. She wouldn't discuss being fired by Paar.

They say you can tell the size of a man's cock from the size of their hands. If this is true watch out for ALDO RAY. Christ, he must have the biggest hands I've ever seen on a human being!

WOULDYOUBELIEVE that the man with the biggest cock in Hollywood is gay? Only in Hollywood could this happen. And yes, he is married, but only as a front.
Link: (the-gossip-columnist-57.blogspot.com) Gossip continues

Miley Continues Her Quest for Whoredom...and Succeeds

Sun, 21 Apr 2008 21:46:10 GMT

posted by Stefenia

Racy Miley Pic on the net...supposedly NOT photoshopped...check out the source for more...

After the BritneyGate2008 wouldn't you, as her mother, NOT allow this to happen???? Am I right????

Source: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/04/20/miley-cyrus-bra/